Need General Advice

Danimal

Danimal

AC Members
May 12, 2004
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60
SE Wisconsin
bakermedia.com
Hello all you fishh freaks!! Looks like I've found a place to call home! I am pretty new to aquaria keeping so I just wanted some advice on my readings and water change schedule.

Water changes are generally 30% every other week - Should this be done more?

I did a water change this afternoon and these are my readings after the water swap

PH = 8.4
KH = 300
GH = 75
NitrIte = 0
NitrAte = 25

I am using my tap water which is softened well water and the PH is 8.4 right out of the tap.

I am having no health issues with the tank as of yet. It has been set up with fish for 3 months and my readings pretty much stay the same. Can any of my readings be dangerous to my fish?

55 gal

8 Tiger Barbs
2 Blue Gouramis
2 Gold Gouramis
3 Tetras
2 Cories
1 Irradescent Shark
1 Pleco
1 Betta Fish
 
Nope, those look pretty good. I'd try to keep the nitrate a bit lower--if that's testing after the water change, that means it was a bit higher. Try going every week instead of every other.

You might want to think about returning the irridescent shark. They get very big, and as adults, are incredibly skittish in a tank by themselves--often injure their noses or make it completely out of the tank. Not really a good aquarium fish for most of us.

Had any problems with the barbs and the betta? You've got a fairly large group, so I'm guessing they keep most of their nipping targetted at one another.
 
Yes the shark is getting pretty big. The LFS didn't tell me how big they got. I only found out after the fact. The Tiger Barbs nip everyonce in a while and the Betta seems to get along with the Gouramis (I've heard you're not supposed to keep these fish together)
All in all it's a pretty happy tank!

I have noticed what you mean about the shark getting skittish. The little bugger just about knocks himself out sometimes.

I will take your advice about the every week water change. I would imagine that I need to keep the reading below 20?
 
That's a good target level for a community tank. The nitrates aren't actually harmful to fish, but they are more easily tested than the many waste products in the tank that we don't have test kits for. Bottom line--if the fish are healthy, active, eating well, and growing, you're doing good!

:)
 
Thanks OrionGirl!!

here's a pic of the shark (please excuse all the white dots.. there must be lint on the lense)

44ir_shark.jpg
 
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